Untitled (microscope) c. 1950

Curator: This arresting silver gelatin print, "Untitled (microscope)," by Jack Gould, presents an almost ghostly image of scientific apparatus. Editor: My initial impression is one of starkness. The reversed tones give it an otherworldly, almost ethereal quality, making the microscope appear as an artifact of unknown purpose. Curator: It’s fascinating to consider the process here. Gould’s choice of gelatin silver print, and the photographic manipulation, elevate a utilitarian object to something almost monumental. The labor involved in both its production, the microscope, and its depiction are noteworthy. Editor: Indeed, the microscope itself is laden with symbolic weight – an instrument of scientific discovery, piercing the veil of the unseen world. The inverted image almost suggests a questioning of that very process of seeing and knowing. Curator: And it speaks volumes about the role of photography in documenting, but also transforming our understanding of technology and knowledge. Editor: It really makes you ponder the evolution of how we perceive the very building blocks of existence. I'm left thinking about the past and the future of scientific exploration.